As schools resume this September, parents in Imo, Benue, Anambra, and Ondo states have welcomed a new policy banning the use of non-transferable textbooks.
The initiative, which allows schoolbooks to be reused and passed down to younger siblings or other students, is aimed at easing the financial pressure on families. It also revives a tradition that had long been eroded by school and publisher practices that forced parents to buy new books every session.
Benue State pioneered the move three weeks ago. According to Helen Nambativ, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, the policy is designed to reduce economic strain on households and refocus attention on children’s academic growth.
The directive will take effect from the first term of the 2025/2026 academic session.
Following Benue’s lead, Anambra State also announced the ban. Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, disclosed that a capacity-building workshop would be held for private school proprietors and teachers to support the transition.
The soaring cost of textbooks, sometimes nearly as high as school fees, has left many Nigerian families struggling. In some cases, students attend classes without books or temporarily drop out until their parents can afford the required editions.
For decades, passing books between siblings was a common practice. However, this tradition began to decline when publishers and schools introduced textbooks that required students to write in them. Frequent changes in publishers and editions have further ensured previously used books became obsolete.
Education stakeholders argue that publishers have exploited the system by collaborating with schools to guarantee annual sales. In some cases, parents are compelled to buy textbooks only from designated school shops, often at higher prices.
Concerns have also been raised about schools using books not approved by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which regulates educational materials. Experts warn that this undermines national standards and confuses learners.
Analysts suggest publishers should explore alternative revenue streams, including digital educational content, apps, and other creative offerings, rather than making textbooks disposable.
The new policy is considered a positive step towards a fairer and more inclusive education system. Stakeholders are calling for its adoption across all states to ensure that no child is left behind simply because their parents cannot afford new textbooks.
